Home Learning
Middle School Home Learning
In Middle School, we believe that learning is best achieved when using a triangular approach between school, child and home. We also understand that there is a fine balance between providing children with the opportunities to consolidate their learning; providing enough time in the week for family time and ensuring children have the time to relax and enjoy any hobbies.
Home Learning, or Homework, refers to tasks given to learners by teachers, to be completed outside of their usual lessons. In Middle School, this consists of fluency tasks, designed to embed and extend the learning our children complete in class.
Learning at home has a number of benefits, including encouraging independence; contributing to the development of self-discipline, self-motivation and good learning habits; supporting the learning process, reinforcing work covered and highlighting strengths and gaps in understanding.
Middle School home learning is age and stage appropriate. Year 5 home learning expectations are similar to that of Lower School, and this progresses incrementally through to Year 8, where expectations are similar to that of Year 9. Across the primary phase at King’s Oak, we have a two-tiered approach to home learning; this is split into compulsory tasks and optional tasks. Across the secondary phase at King’s Oak, all homework is compulsory.
Students who are not working within their year group are supported in a variety of ways, from completing individualised tasks, specifically set to focus on a current target, to working alongside a member of staff in homework club. Class teachers and Heads of Year work with individual students and families to develop the most appropriate approach for each child.
Year 5: Learning to Learn at Home
In Year 5, we want to help our children learn to learn at home: this supports them in establishing routines and understanding how to create an environment which enables them to learn. It also provides them with a valuable opportunity to practice learning covered in class.
You can help your child by supporting them to find a quiet space and discussing techniques they can use to maintain focus in their home environment. Asking your child questions about their home learning, and helping them to develop fluency in reading and times tables outside of dedicated ‘learning to learn at home’ time would also help your child.
Expectations for home learning in Year 5 are as follows
Compulsory
- Reading for Pleasure (minimum of ten minutes, five times per week)
- Times Table Rockstars (minimum of ten minutes, five times per week)
- A Maths fluency task each week (approximately 10-15 minutes per week)
- An English fluency task each week (approximately 10-15 minutes per week)
Optional
- Holiday homework, which enables children to continue to practice their learning
The Middle School team run homework clubs through the week, to ensure that children who have been unable to complete their fluency tasks independently do not miss out on this important learning.
For further information regarding Year 5 homework, please contact your child’s class teacher.
Year 6: Home Learning
In Year 6, we want to continue to develop our children’s skills of learning at home: this supports them in embedding routines and understanding environments which best enable them to learn. It also provides them with a valuable opportunity to practice learning covered in class.
You can help your child by supporting them to find a quiet space and discussing techniques they can use to maintain focus in their home environment. Asking your child questions about their home learning, and helping them to develop fluency in reading and times tables outside of dedicated ‘learning to learn at home’ time would also help your child.
Compulsory
- Reading for Pleasure (minimum of ten minutes, five times per week)
- Times Table Rockstars (minimum of ten minutes, five times per week)
- A Maths fluency task each week (approximately 15-20 minutes per week)
- An English fluency task each week (approximately 15-20 minutes per week)
Optional
- Holiday homework, which enables children to continue to practice their learning
The Middle School team run homework clubs through the week, to ensure that children who have been unable to complete their fluency tasks independently do not miss out on this important learning.
For further information regarding Year 6 homework, please contact your child’s class teacher.
Year 7 and Year 8: Homework
Homework is set daily and is compulsory. Each daily homework session should take around 15-20 minutes to complete and is based around clear knowledge organisers. Students are expected to complete a task around the knowledge organiser content in their home learning book.
Each student is issued a knowledge organiser booklet and a homework book, in which they complete their homework. The only subject which requires a device or internet access in in Maths, where ‘Sparx’ is used. If students do not have device or internet access, there are various homework sessions through the week, led by Miss Pearch, Ms Jacobson and Mr Blake at lunchtime or after school. A number of Middle School students also use the library at lunchtime, choosing to complete their home learning alongside friends.
Each morning, tutors check students’ homework books for completion and log any non-completion. Failure to complete required homework triggers a sanction. Class teachers will then check homework for quality, and accuracy.
Knowledge organisers are useful tools in learning, providing an oversight of fundamental knowledge needed to succeed within a topic within a subject. They allow students to pre-learn and revisit information needed to competently work within a subject.
This style of homework looks to embed some key independent study skills that began to be developed within the earlier Middle School years of King’s Oak. It helps to develop resilience and self-regulation, as well as practising the study skills they will need later in their educational journey.
To support your child with their homework, please encourage them to complete the given activity, focusing well and ensuring they spend the recommended time completing it. Students will bring their knowledge organisers and homework books home with them; please check that they have these with them every day when they come to school. You could support your child further by quizzing them on the knowledge and content.
In addition to using the knowledge organisers, we encourage students to be reading for pleasure for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. They should record this in their homework books as an additional record.
For further information regarding Year 7 or Year 8 homework, please contact your child’s Head of Year.
